Summers visits Motlow in celebration of Black History

In celebration of Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Motlow College is hosting two performances by Lee Summers on Thursday, Feb. 27, in Eoff Hall on the Moore County Campus.

Summers, a resident of New York and a Nashville Native, is a multitalented artist (writer, composer, producer, performer and director) who has worked on Broadway, in film and in television.

Performances will be at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The morning performance is geared toward Motlow students, while the evening event is a public performance and will be followed by a reception for Summers in Eoff Hall. Reservations are not required for either performance.

Summers’ Broadway resume includes performing in the original cast of Dreamgirls. He has also written and composed for numerous musicals and plays, including OffBroadway’s From My Hometown, the Funkentine Rapture, Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song and If These Shoes Could Talk.

Summer’s television credits include appearances on Blue Blood, Boardwalk Empire and multiple episodes of Law & Order. He also appeared in the 1992 film Malcom X.

He was the recipient of a 2010 Bistro Award, a Gilman and Gonzalez Falla Commendation, and he is a Yip Harburg Fellow, each in recognition for his work in Musical theater.

Summers studied theatre at Tennessee State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in dramatic writing for musical theatre from SUNY Empire State University.

In between his artistic engagements, Summers served as general manager of the historic Triad Theatre, where he oversaw a $400,000 renovation and created the Just A Piano concert series, which has presented countless artists and benefited numerous charities.